Image processing apparatus and information processing system

Abstract

A disclosed image processing apparatus includes process components configured to input, process, or output image data; and a registration unit configured to obtain a list of the process components available in the image processing apparatus, to display on a display unit a screen for selecting a plurality of the process components from the list and thereby defining a combination of the process components which combination implements an application program for performing an image processing task, and to register the combination with an identifier in the image processing apparatus.

1. An information processing apparatus connected via a network to a plurality of external apparatuses, the information processing apparatus comprising:
 a receiving unit configured to receive a plurality of data processes from at least one of the external apparatuses, the at least one external apparatus being configured to execute at least one of the plurality of data processes; 
 a generating unit configured to generate a process flow by combining at least two of the received plurality of data processes; and 
 a transmitting unit configured to transmit a request to register the generated process flow to the at least one external apparatus. 
 
     
     
       2. The information processing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the generating unit is further configured to generate the process flow by connecting the at least two of the received plurality of data processes in a desired order of execution. 
     
     
       3. The information processing apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a display unit configured to graphically display a list of the received plurality of data processes, the received plurality of data processes being executed on the at least one external apparatus and the received plurality of data processes being registered on the at least one external apparatus. 
 
     
     
       4. The information processing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the generating unit is configured to set identifying information for the process flow, to define a sequence of execution of the at least two process components and to define conditions governing the execution of the process flow. 
     
     
       5. The information processing apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the identifying information includes at least one of a process flow name, a process flow creator, and a process flow registration date. 
     
     
       6. The information processing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving unit is configured to receive a registration completion report for the process flow from the at least one external apparatus. 
     
     
       7. The information processing apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a selecting unit configured to select the at least one external apparatus where the process flow is registered. 
 
     
     
       8. The information processing apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the selecting unit is configured to select any one of the plurality of external apparatuses connected to the network. 
     
     
       9. A method of operating an information processing apparatus connected via a network to a plurality of external apparatuses, the method comprising:
 receiving, via a receiving unit, a plurality of data processes from at least one of the external apparatuses, the at least one external apparatus being configured to execute at least one of the plurality of data processes; 
 generating, using a generating unit, a process flow by combining at least two of the received plurality of data processes; and 
 transmitting, using a transmitting unit, a request to register the generated process flow to the at least one external apparatus. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the generating step generates the process flow by connecting the at least two of the received plurality of data processes in a desired, order of execution. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 displaying as graphics, using a display unit, a list of the received plurality of data processes, the received plurality of data processes being executed on the at least one external apparatus and the received plurality of data processes being registered on the at least one external apparatus. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the generating step sets identifying information for the process flow, defines a sequence of execution of the at least two process components and defines conditions governing the execution of the process flow. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein setting the identifying information includes providing at least one of a process flow name, a process flow creator, and a process flow registration date. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the receiving step receives a registration completion report for the process flow from the at least one external apparatus. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 selecting, using a selecting unit, the at least one external apparatus where the process flow is registered. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the selecting step selects any one of the plurality of external apparatuses connected to the network.